How do you stop people from having kids they shouldn't be having? Trust me, I wish there were a way to do this, but I can't think of one without completely trampling on people's rights. I don't know either, it is a tough issue, but I would leave WIC alone, and focus on unemployment benefits, and food stamps. I would make cuts to those social programs before WIC.
To pay no taxes because of kids a couple would have to have AGI under 28,000. That is on the low end of middle class. An AGI of 28,000 translates to a household gross of 40,000 bucks. That aint exactly a high salary. Here are the CBO numbers for 2006: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/100xx/doc10068/effective_tax_rates_2006.pdf See page 4 of 5.
About what I figured. However, I think you said at one point your effective tax rate was 4% or so on about 100k (correct that if I'm wrong). It seems a little low to me, relatively speaking of course.
Of course not. But this country has never let its indigents totally fend for themselves, no civilized country does. We don't need shantytowns and barrios emerging and a rising crime rate as these people are forceed to steal and beg.
I am a bit lower than the norm on the tax side because my wife is in nursing school, my kids are in daycare, and I max out HSA contributions. I also spen a substantial part of 10 paying into a state pension.
There are millions of people that are on the governments payroll for their living expenses. It's only a drop in the bucket compaired to total government spending. These people could be paying taxes if they worked. Many of these same people wind up in our jails. I don't undestand why they don't see the importance in learning a trade. The government subsidizing their rent and other living expenses doesn't do anything to make them get off their asses. You don't need a college degree to make a good living if you learn a trade and continue the learning process and get more certifications every chance you get. Forcing continued education and career training should be a part of any government assistance.
I'm in a similar boat. But my point is all those things add up to a six figure guy paying 4%. Relative to what other people pay in other situations, I just think it's a little low.
They'll steal anyway. It's what "they" do. But I'm not advocating abandoning the indigent. I'm making the point that the working poor shouldn't be penalized.
